Children and Healing

[Fire Walk With Me]

Hi, recent threads, especially the one on feeding demons (a chöd variant, very effective) have reminded me of the healing techniques which are natural to children...play acting, using dolls and toys, etc. to replay traumatic experience and as such, diminish it. Adults in western society don't have much along the same lines, especially regarding direct emotional interaction with the egregious feelings (traditional Jewish mourning comes to mind and can possibly be the exception, although I only know of it through reading).

Children seem born with the instinct (or at least potential) to release trauma through the use of anthropomorphized replay of the situation. The visualization process of lovingly addressing our emotional blocks and shadow, of asking its nature and worries and goals, is an adult tool for those interested in such things (and possibly having lacked such an outlet). I've found in my various explorations in healing that emotional knots must indeed be lovingly considered, that past trauma can indeed be healed through such process. The 12-Step process is aided by surrender and as such, buffering of such trauma that it may be faced and worked through. Meditation is the practice of increasing awareness, and of sitting through upsurging emotions (in general) and bodily self-interest to train it into peace and silence; very useful as a tool for processing...

And a child knows that sometimes just a simple hug, which says, "I know what you're feeling and I'm sorry that you're feeling it", is the most powerful healing tool. Pain and fear are isolating. Bullies often act out to force others to feel the same as what they've been through. We need a change in our overall societal view of healing, and of the causes of pain and fear. After all, emotions are X the Unknown and unfaced in our "society". Until now, if you have been in pain and fear, you risk highly negative responses if you ask for help. The time for suffering in silence is over and done.


Obviously, I'm just monologue-ing and throwing out concepts which may merit consideration, or better, synthesis. I'm very interested in forumites' experiences and insight if you'd please share...because it may seem that we are born with what we need, but as society is built to force us to forget our inborn instincts in favor of submitting to =its= need. That of course is again, in general, changing for the better, so consideration of sane methods to replace the insane, is highly welcome :)

Peace...

[OneGrassRoot]

1. This prompts me to share...

:hi:

There's so much good stuff for discussion and pondering here. Thanks, FWWM. :hug:

I believe that a hug -- when offered with an open heart -- is so incredibly healing, even virtual hugs.

I wonder if people hug themselves on a regular basis? It's something I forget to do, and your post reminded me to hug myself.

When we hug ourselves -- sometimes hugging the child within and sometimes hugging the adult going through so many challenges now -- it feels so good. I recommend trying it. :hug:

While I absolutely feel we are coming together more and more, and physical hugs and direct cooperation and communication are the way of the future, I also believe we are learning to be more self-reliant, including self-healing.

I did something the other night that I still find fascinating. Now, I don't consider myself a healer in any sense of the word as many of you here can claim. I believe hugs are healing, including my hugs, but beyond that...I don't see myself as a healer.

I do, however, believe I can heal myself.

I was awake for several hours in the middle of the night the other night, aware of various aches and pains and discomforts. I started daydreaming about having a massage.

Then I started to imagine HAVING a massage. I imagined giving myself an "ethereal" massage - :shrug:

I think when most of us have really focused on our physical bodies when intending to heal, our hands get very, very hot, right? Mine do.

In my ethereal massage, I swear I could feel my hands as I went through the process of massaging my entire body, from head to toe. When I massaged the cranial area, I felt sinus drainage just as I would with a "physical" massage!

I actually felt better the next morning and was really impressed. I did this for at least an hour and it was so relaxing.

I'm going to try to do it on a regular basis.

:grouphug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. "This prompts me to share..."

That was my hope :)

You =are= a healer. Having begun to so clearly take care of and heal yourself, you =are= a healer. Your =knowing= that hugs heal proves that you are a healer. Your focusing love and positive energy on others and culture's ills is healing and creates the new way. You're just sufficiently humble about it... :hug:

The hands are indeed the key. The energy centers in each palm are where we manipulate energy, and channel it through ourselves to others. I like the avatar of one ASAH'er, of the radiant palms in an act of laying on of hands. It's all about energy, and of course, we are pack animals, so contact is naturally healing and inclusive. I worry that the isolation of the painfully homeless involves to some degree, an exclusion from the energy and contact of others. A great gift, an empowering gift, is the same as we give to children and to each other: direct, strong, continuous attention, which is powerful energy, and it can be increased through the will and attention upon the attention you are giving.


I hope that others will share their stories of healing, personal and of others, and of insight and technique. Each story allows others themselves permission to heal, and solidifies this positive trend, bringing us together and turning loving energy where it is needed.

:hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

3. I just returned from taking my daughter to an appointment...

It's becoming more and more common that every time we go somewhere there are persons who are homeless, standing or sitting at major intersections.

You wrote: "I worry that the isolation of the painfully homeless involves to some degree, an exclusion from the energy and contact of others."

Yes, I agree. It's the dehumanization of the experience that rips me apart. Even when I don't have anything to give (today, for example, I gave the gentleman all the change I had in my purse, which did add up to a few dollars, thankfully), I make sure to reach out to take their hands, make eye contact, call him/her "sir" or "madam" to let them know I SEE them, and I respect them and value their existence.

What a gift TO ME they provide in allowing me to do so.

Eye contact is such a big thing with me...always has been. When people avoid eye contact it disturbs me tremendously. I crave it eye contact, and I believe most homeless persons crave it, as a matter of simple respect and decency.

We are able to gift one another with a very simple exchange in that way.

Witnessing these respectful exchanges -- human to human -- has really opened something within my daughter, and I'm so grateful to these souls to have provided us with unplanned opportunities to express what it's like to have an open heart with strangers.

I know this phrase is off-putting to some, but it still says what I feel every time I encounter someone struggling so with surviving daily life: There but for the grace of God go I...


:grouphug:

[seabeyond]

4. something interesting with youngest. he is an energy baby.

his emotions always came out anger, but he might not be angry, could be sad... just looked like anger.

from his youngest time, i recognized there were times his emotions were swirling and he need a heart to heart hug.... to bring him to stillness. balance. feet on ground.

then there were times his thoughts were jumbled and he needed a forehead to forehead to bring him to peace, stillness.

he is my child of energy, that has taught me so much, just thru his natural experience of it.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. ...

:hi:

Nice to "see" you....:hug: